Public Service, released in 1981, certainly isn’t the earliest example of SoCal punk kids putting out their own records. It’s funny to think, though, that thirty years ago there wasn’t an imprint willing to put out work by the likes of Bad Religion. There’s not generally any sense to the inner workings of the record industry. And I guess that’s what Public Service works to show.
Redd Kross: These guys usually find themselves discussed in the realm of garage meets punk meets pop. Then some random tidbit about the ensemble’s collective age gets tossed in there. What hasn’t ever been discussed – and I don’t know why – is how Red Kross in general and “Everyday There's Someone New” sounds a good deal like Courtney Love’s Hole in both music and vocal delivery. That doesn’t somehow validate that chick’s music career, but it is pretty interesting to wonder about some invisible ties linking all of punk to whatever grunge actually was. Good songs here, though.
RF7: One of the unheralded early loudfastrules bands, RF7 isn’t generally concerned with tunefulness. That’s evident from all three of its efforts here, but “World of Hate” and its guitar solo make the point pretty well even if the following growled lyrics during “Scientific Race” don’t. Average at best, but perhaps historically relevant.
Circle One: Tough guys make fast rock music. All four of the band’s songs clock in at a total of four minutes. That should say a lot about Circle One’s approach. But for hardcore connoisseur, the band needs to be explored a bit beyond just the efforts here.
Bad Religion: These guys probably don’t need too many more words spilled on them. It is curious, though, that no one’s thought to make a movie chronicling the band’s career. During the nineties Bad Religion even scored some pretty heavy rotation on national radio. Here, a decade before, some of the ensemble’s earliest efforts find inclusion. With Greg Gaffin crooning snotty intonations, the band isn’t as brutal as it would be otherwise. That being said “Slaves” gets pretty speedy even while the Cornell graduate spits out some social commentary. You already know…
Disability: Um, what a good name. I think. The lyrics here aren ‘t too much more than one would expect after getting an earful of the other stuff here. But the little kid anthemic choruses are pretty great even though no one was really able to stay in key. Boss sounds from suburban grounds.